Fire extinguishing system



July 10, 1956 H. G. KINCAID 2,753,944

FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Filed June 12, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY July 10, 1956 H. G. KINCAID 2,753,944

FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Filed June 12, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HwarJGotdonMwa id BY ATTORNEY .IIIIIH July 10, 1956 H. G. KlNCAlD 2,753,944

FIRE 'EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Filed June 12, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 llllllh IN V EN TOR. I

AZTDRNEY FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM Howard G. Kincaid, Boonton, N. J., assignor to Specialties Development Corporation, Belleville, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 12, 195-3, Serial No. 361,170

'10 Claims. (Cl. 16911) The present invention relates to fire extinguishing systems, and, more particularly, to improvements in such Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to nited States Patent provide such a system wherein a source of fire extinguishing medium can be released selectively, automatically and under manual supervision upon the detection of heat.

Another object is to provide such a system wherein the pressure produced by the expansion of the gas dueto heat can be utilized selectively for effecting automatic release of the medium and for eiiecting operation of an alarm or for effecting automatic releaseof another source of fire extinguishing medium.

Another object is to provide such a system wherein a main source and a reserve source of fire extinguishing medium can be released selectively by the pressure of the gas.

A further object is to provide such systems which are simple and economical in construction and which are practical and fool-proof in operation.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment oi the invention in practice.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects are accomplished by providing a fire extinguishing system comprising, in combination, a container for storing a source of fluid medium under pressure having an outlet, valve means for controlling the outlet to release the medium from the container, a control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for effecting operation of the valve means to release the medium including a chamber provided with an inlet, a second control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for effecting operation of an auxiliary device, such as the switch of an alarm system or the valve means for controlling the release of a second source of fluid medium under pressure, and including a chamber provided with an inlet, a gas chamber wherein gas is adapted to be expanded by heat to produce a pressure having an outlet, and means for selectively connecting the gas chamber outlet in fluid flow communication with one of the control head chamber inlets and isolating the gas chamber outlet from the other control head chamber inlet.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating a fire extinguishing system in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section view of a valve and control headadapted to be utilized in connection with the present invention.

2,753,944 Patented July 10, 1956 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary schematic view of a modified system embodying the invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of the selector means and indicating means associated therewith.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5-5 on Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, a fire extinguishing system is shown which generally comprises a container 10 having an outlet, a second container 11 having an outlet, a valve 12 for controlling each of the container outlets, a discharge pipe 14 connected to the outlets of the valves and extending to the space (not shown) to be protected against fire, a pressure operable control head 15 for eiiecting opening of the valves each having an inlet, a chamber 16 having an outlet and located in the space to be protected and in which gas is adapted to be expanded by heat to produce pressure, and means 17 for selectively connecting the gas chamber outlet in fluid flow communication with either of the control head inlets as described hereinafter.

The containers 10 and 11 schematically represent main and reserve sources, respectively, of fire extinguishing medium, which sources actually may comprise one or more containers arranged in a system for effecting the discharge of fire extinguishing medium therefrom in most any desired manner. For example, such systems are i1- lustrated in United States Letters Patents 2,352,627, 2,492,165 and 2,534,262.

The valve 12 (of either container) and the control head 15 associated therewith are illustrated in detail in Fig. 2.

The valve 12 comprises a body having an inlet 20 in communication with the interior of the container, an outlet 21 in communication with the pipe 14 and a main valve seat 22 between the inlet and outlet; a main valve member 24 for the seat 22; a cylinder 25; a piston26 in the cylinder for unseating the main valvemember; a passageway means 27 communicating with the inlet 20 and the cylinder 25 including a bushing 28 and a pilot valve seat 29; and a pilot valve member 30 for the seat 29 adapted to control the admission of fluid medium under pressure from the container to the cylinder 25.

The control head 15 is secured to the bushing 28 .of the valve 12 to establish a passageway extending from the pilot valve seat 29 to the cylinder 25. Preferably, the control head comprises a spring operated plunger 31 for effecting unseating of the pilot valve member; a, latch and lever system 32 for retaining the plunger in spring loaded position; trigger means 34 for operating the latch and lever system to release the plunger; and means .for manually and/or pneumatically actuating the trigger means.

The trigger may be actuated pneumatically by a diaphragm 35 forming a closure for a chamber 36 having an inlet 37 adapted to receive fluid medium under pressure from the selector means 17 as about to be described. A control head of the general type utilized herein is disclosed and more completely described in United States Letters Patent 2,466,750.

The chamber 16 may be any well known type of heat absorbing or pressure producing element adapted to create a pneumatic impulse transmitted through its outlet 39 on a sudden increase in temperature adjacent the same due to the heat ofa fire.

The selector means 17, in accordance with the present invention, comprises an elongate tube 40 closed at its ends and partially filled with a liquid suchas mercury which will not absorb gas and is impervious to gas; a bracket 41 supporting the tube 40 at the middle'thereof; means for pivotally mounting the bracket at 42; a handle 43 for rocking the bracket about its pivotwhereby the tube can be moved from one predetermined inclined position to another; and means for indicating the position of the tube including a pointer 44 on the handle and ii idi cia (A and B) associated with the pointer.

The tube 40 has an inlet 45 connected in fluid flow ss t aai i n w h the. Ou t}? fifih .Qh mbs 16 by a flexible hose 46, and has outlets 47 and4? adjacent its. satiale izssiita yi ea h c nne te in. a w s rnunication with inlet ;37 of one of the control head er 3. M a. fl ih ahqse 50- I Iii operation, with the selector means '17 tilted to the left or position A shown in Fig, 1, communication between the inlet 45 the outlet 47 is established through the tube because the liquid therein is at the other end t s l t ar d erves t s aih' ut e r by a P e liit i i l eat d in th hambe 16 a ap e t be transm tted to the icontrbl headlS associated with the valve of: the container 1Q to effect release of the fluid tliielin, the impulse will not effect release of the 1 nd the container 1 1 The system may be conditioned for releasing the fluid in the container 11 by tilting the li was .7. t il f t r p t on While notisho'ivn herein, it will be understood that the inlet fi'andtihe outiets 47 and 49 have means associated therewith permit air to flow when desired but p 'event passage of the liquid into theqhoses 46 and 50 f fom th e tuhe Also, the chamber 16 or the con trol ha cl chambers may include means for bleeding oifa'ir upon a slow rise in pressure, as is customary, so h t thelsystem be actuated only in response to a fish den rate of risein temperature and corresponding P -a .i'e the. h mbe s- In Fig. 3, a portion of a modified system'embodying the present invention is illustrated. This system includes a mainsou'rceoifire extinguishing medium such as shown 'inFigflpbut instead of the reserve or auxiliary source, inc'hides an 'alarm circuit comprising alarm means 51, a of elec eal energy 52 for operating the alarm j i iiviich s i adapted to be actuated by the plunger of a control head 15 to close the circuit.

'ihisisystem is articularly adaptable for installations where it is desired to operate the same automatically iiight or other times when no one is in attend- ;an c e ili e reo f and, at other times, to merely sound an alarm topnablean attendant to decidewhether or not the'system mustbe operated to extinguish the fire. Depending upon the proper requirement, the attendant exthe tire byother means or manually-actuates the control head lfassociated with the container 10.

4, more detailedselector means and an indicating larrang ent are illustrated, wherein mercury switches and i5 l5lare mounted on the shaft 42 andconnected circuits 'respectively, in a manner to cause lamps 56A I tobe il uminated and indicate that thetube 40 of thegsel ec tprmeans lfliis either in its A or B position.

Anothenfeature of this arrangement is that-provision is made ior preventing the tube from assuming some "position intermediate its A and B;positions, whereby'the inlet 45fcannot be in communication with'both of'the :49 at the same time. Thislis accomplished a toggle mechanism 5? connecting the shaft 42 to the handwheel 43 adapted to snap the tube"40 fully into its A or B position upon turning of the han'dwheel.

The toggle mechanism 57, as shown in Fig. 5, comip rise's a shaft 58 extending through a bearing 519 ,and into a boreat the end of the shaft 42, and having'the handwheels'ecure'd to the free end thereof; an arnitiil secured to the shaft 42 having an ear 61 atits ffeeerid foiinedwith 63 having 'one end pivotally connected "to the fieeend' of the "arm 62 and having its other end slidably disposed in'the a'perture' ofthe earolrandaspring64 coiled 'about the link63 and held under compression bet w'een the ear "61 and a stop 65 adjacent thepivot ed 'erid of the link.

In operation, as the shaft 58 is turned clockwise, the arm 62 moves the link 63 -'t'o"eflect compression of the spring 64 until the afimsiO and 62 a're in alignment. When the 4 arm 62 is moved past this position, the spring 64 exerts a tone on the am '69 "to turn the same a counterclockwise direction to the position shown in broken lines, thereby causing the shaft 42 to be rotated to place the tube 40 fully in one of its desired positions.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple and practical fire extinguishing system adapted :for selective operation to fulfill desired requirements under various operating conditions without being subjected to faulty operation.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionand without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a fire extinguishing system, the combination of a container for storing a source of fluid medium under pressure having anoiitlet, valve means for controlling said outlet to releasethe'medium from said container, a control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for eflecting operation of said yalve'means to release the medium and including a chamber provided with an inlet, a second control head having means operable'in response to fluid under pressure including aih'em'ber for efiecting operation of an auxiliary device and including a chamber provided with an inlet, a gas chamber wherein gas is adapted to be expanded by heat'to produce pressure having an outlet, and means for selectively connecting said gas chamber outlet in fluid flow communication with-one of said control head chamber inlets and isolating said gas chamber outlet from said other control head chamber inlet. I

' 2. Inafire extinguishing system, the combination of a 'containerfor-storing a main source of fluid medium under pressure having an outlet, valve means for controlling said outlet to release the medium from said container, a'controlfhe'ad having means operable in response to fluid under p'ressureincluding a member for effecting operation of said valve means to release the medium and including a chamber provided withan inlet,-a container for storing a reserve source -of 'fluid-mediumunder pressure having an outlet, valve meansfor controlling the outlet of said last mentioned container to release the medium therefrom, a controlhe'a'd having means operable-in response to fluid under pressure including a member for effecting operation of said reservesource valve means to release the medium 'and'including a chamber provided with an inlet, a gas chamber wherein gas is adaptedto be expanded by heat "to produce pressure having an outlet, and means for selectively connecting saidgas chamber outlet in fluid flow communication with one of said control head chamber inlets and isolating said gas chamber outlet from said other control headchamber inlet.

' In a fireextinguishing system, the combination of a container for storing-a source of fluid medium under pressure having anoutlet, valve means for controlling said outlet to release the medium from said container, a control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure includinga member for elfecting operation of said valve means to release the medium and including a chamber. provided with an inlet, an alarm circuit including a switch, a second controlhead having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for effecting operation-of said switch to closesaid alarmcircuit and including a chamber provided with an inlet, a gas chamber wherein gas is adapted to be expanded by heat to produce pressure having an-outlet, and means for-selectivelyconnecting saidegas chamber outlet in'fluid flow communicationwith one of said control head camber inlets and isolating said gas chamber outlet: from-said other control head-chamber inlet.

4. 1m a fire extinguishing s'ystem, thecombinationof a container for storing a source of fluid rfiedium'under pressure having an oulet, valve means for controlling said outlet to release the medium from said container, a control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for effecting operation of said valve means to release the medium and including a chamber provided with an inlet, an alarm circuit including a switch, a second control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for effecting operation of said switch to close said alarm circuit and including a chamber provided with an inlet, a gas chamber wherein gas is adapted to be expanded by heat to produce pressure having an outlet, and means for selectively connecting said gas chamber outlet in fluid flow communication with one of said control head chamber inlets and isolating said gas chamber outlet from said other control head chamber inlet, said first control head including means for manually effecting operation thereof.

5. In a fire extinguishing system, the combination of a container for storing a source of fluid medium under pressure having an outlet, valve means for controlling said outlet to release the medium from said container, a control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for effecting operation of said valve means to release the medium and including a chamber provided with an inlet, a second control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for effecting operation of an auxiliary device and including a chamber provided with an inlet, a gas chamber wherein gas is adapted to be expanded by heat to produce pressure having an outlet, means for selectively connecting said gas chamber outlet in fluid flow communication with one of said control head chamber inlets and isolating said gas chamber outlet from said other control head chamber inlet, and means operatively associated with said last mentioned means for indicating which of said control head chamber inlets is connected in fluid flow communication with said gas chamber outlet.

6. In a fire extinguishing system, the combination of a container for storing a source of fluid medium under pressure having an outlet, valve means for controlling said outlet to release the medium from said container, a control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for effecting operation of said valve means to release the medium and including a chamber provided with an inlet, a second control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for eflecting operation of an auxiliary device and including a chamber provided with an inlet, a gas chamber wherein gas is adapted to be expanded by heat to produce pressure having an outlet, and an elongate tube pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof and partially filled with a liquid impervious to gas, said tube having an inlet at the middle thereof connected in fluid flow communication with said gas chamber outlet and having an outlet adjacent each end thereof respectively connected in fluid flow communication with one of said control head chamber inlets thereby providing means for selectively connecting said gas chamber outlet in fluid flow communication with one of said control head chamber inlets and isolating said gas chamber outlet from said other control head chamber inlet.

7. In a fire extinguishing system, the combination of a container for storing a source of fluid medium under pressure having an outlet, valve means for controlling said outlet to release the medium from said container, a control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for effecting operation of said valve means to release the medium and including a chamber provided with an inlet, a second control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for effecting operation of an auxiliary device and including a chamber provided with an inlet, a gas chamber wherein gas is adapted to be expanded by heat to produce pressure having an outlet, .an elongate tube pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof and partially filled with a liquid impervious to gas, said tube having an inlet at the middle thereof connected in fluid flow communication with said gas chamber outlet and having an outlet adjacent each end thereof respectively connected in fluid flow communication with one of said control head chamber inlets thereby providing means for selectively connecting said gas chamber outlet in fluid flow communication with one of said control head chamber inlets and isolating said gas chamber outlet from said other control head chamber inlet, and means for rocking said tube from one tilted position to another.

8. In a fire extinguishing system, the combination of a container for storing a source of fluid medium under pressure having an outlet, valve means for controlling said outlet to release the medium from said container, a control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for effecting operation of said valve means to release the medium and including a chamber provided with an inlet, a second control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for effecting operation of an auxiliary device and including a chamber provided with an inlet, a gas chamber wherein gas is adapted to be expanded by heat to produce pressure having an outlet, an elongate tube pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof and partially filled with a liquid impervious to gas, said tube having an inlet at the middle thereof connected in fluid flow communication with said gas chamber outlet and having an outlet adjacent each end thereof respectively connected in fluid flow communication with one of said control head chamber inlets thereby providing means for selectively connecting said gas chamber outlet in fluid flow communication with one of said control head chamber inlets and isolating said gas chamber outlet from said other control head chamber inlet, and means for rocking said tube from one tilted position to another, said last mentioned means including means operatively associated therewith for indicating which of said control head chamber inlets is connected in fluid flow communication with said gas chamber outlet.

9. In a fire extinguishing system, the combination of a container for storing a source of fluid medium under pressure having an outlet, valve means for controlling said outlet to release the medium from said container, a control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for effecting operation of said valve means to release the medium and including a chamber provided with an inlet, a second control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for efiecting operation of an auxiliary device and including a chamber provided with an inlet, a gas chamber wherein gas is adapted to be expanded by heat to produce pressure having an outlet, pivotally mounted means for selectively connecting said gas chamber outlet in fluid flow communication with one of said control head chamber inlets and isolating said gas chamber outlet from said other control head chamber inlet, and means for operating said last mentioned means to place the same in one of its selected positions including a spring actuated toggle mechanism for preventing said last mentioned means from assuming an intermediate position.

10. In a fire extinguishing system, the combination of a container for storing a source of fluid medium under pressure having an outlet, valve means for controlling said outlet to release the medium from said container, a control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for effecting operation of said valve means to release the medium and including a chamber provided with an inlet, a second control head having means operable in response to fluid under pressure including a member for effecting operation of an auxiliary device and including a chamber provided 7 with an inlet, a gas chamber wherein gas is adapted to be xpanded by eat to P o uce p es i g a ou let, a. shaft, an elongate tube mounted intermediate the ends thereof on said shaft and partially filled with a liquid impervious to gas, said tube having an inlet at the middle thereof connected in fluid flow communication with said gas chamber outlet and having an outlet adjacent each end thereof respectively connected in fluid flow communication with one of said control head chamber inlets thereby providing means tor selectively connecting said gas chamber outlet in fluid flow communication with one of said control head chamber inlets and isolating said gas chamber outlet from saidother control head chamber 8 in et, an m an fe urn n Sa d shaft o pl e said tube i one o its elect pos t on in uding manual y ope ab mean a a p i tu e toggle m chan m @91 necting said manually operable means and said shaft for Pr ent ng sa d ube f om s um g an e ediat P S ticn.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 484,516 Cutmore Oct. 18, 189.2 1,738,656 Lowe Dec. 1-0., 19 29 1,942,823 j-Lowe ;et a1. Ian. 9, 193.4 2,011,368 Mapes Aug. =13, 1935 

